Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-23
THE GRAND ARMY.
First Day of the Grand Encampment at
Los Angeles.

LOo <AhSSASSs
by telegraph.
Los ANGELES, February 22d.-About 8
o'clock yesterday the Encampment was
called to order and, after the appointment
of committees, the reports of officers were
read.
The report of the Department Commander
calls attention to the continued prosperity
of the department, which now numbers 12l
Posts and about 6, 445 comrades. The de-
partment is congratulated upon the success
of the Twentieth National Encampment in
San Francisco last August, and Post De-
partment Commander Backus, Chairman
of the General Committee of Management,
having in charge the work OF preparation
for that gathering, is paid handsome
compliment for his management OF the
affair
Assistant Adjutant General Taylor and
Assistant Quartermaster-General Orion are
commended for their faithful services at
the department headquarters, and attention
is called TO the increase of labor at the
headquarters during the past year, coupled
with the recommendation that the salaries
be retained at the present figures-S75 per
month for Assistant Adjutant-General and
$50 for Assistant Quartermaster-General
Commander Smedberg announced to the
Encampment that he has approved the ap-
plication of the Commander-in-C OF
the seven Arizona Posts for the creation OF
the Department of Arizona.
A memorial resolution in honor of Gen
eral Logan was suggested, and feeling aliu-
sions were made to the death of Hazen
Stone. and other eminent veterans during
the past year.
The Woman's Relief Corps and the kin
dred organization known as Ladies OF the
Grand Army of the Republic were COM
| mended, and the progress of the corps
| now numbering in this department 81
subordinate organizations, with member
ship of 2,400, was noted with qualification
The organization known as :" Sons o.
Veterans" was commended, but the abo
| lition of military titles in the designation
| of rank was recommended.
Commander Smedberg said the idea o
| turning loose upon the country new croI
of Generals, Colonels, Majors and Captains
every year, simply because the wearers o
these titles have held Office in society
is an absurdity which should not be toler
! ated by the Grand Army.
The report of Assistant A6iutant- Genera
| Taylor shows that on December 81, 1885
| the department numbered 50 Posts, with
membership of 4.233; on December 81
| 1886, the Posts numbered 40, with tota
membership of 6,326, being a gain durini
the year of 2,092 comrades.
The retiring administration, between
| February 90 1885, and February 81, 1881
gained thirty Posts by muster and one b.
| reinstatement, with a total gain in mem
bership of l, 800 comrades.
| The Adiutant-G General recommends tina
department relief fund be established
and that il be provided with money by tn
issuance of commissions TO eli officers il
the department and Posts, for each c
which a small fee shall be charged.
The report of the Quartermaster-Gene
| shows the receipts from all sources durin
the year to have been S., 334 II, and tn
disbursements S66S1 SO, leaving balanc
of S652 81.
The Quartermaster General report
1854 % in the Grant monument fund, an
as the probability of the construction c
| the monument seems very remote, Will
several departments have voted a return c
similar funds to the Posts contributin
them, il is recommended that the Council
of Administration be authorized to use it
| Judgment in making some such disposition
| of this fund. The retention of the presen
per capita tax of GO cents per annum
recommended, but reduction in the pric
of badges is suggested.
The report Of Department Inspecto
Johnson shows the various Posts all il
| good condition.
The report of Chief mastering Officer
B. Edwards recapitulates the data of tn
increase of the department, and that of tn
Council of Administration transmits th
report of the General Committee of Man
agement of the National Encampment.
In the Department Encampment reso
luton was presented condemning the vet
of the dependent pension bill and calm
on California Senators and Representative
to vote to pass it over the Presidents veto
The resolution was referred to committee
The Encampment took a recess unit
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
To-day was passed in excursions to Nor
rovia, Alhambra and other points of intel
est in the vicinity.
The greatest interest centers in the ba
loting on Wednesday for the Departmer
Commander. The most prominent CON
rades mentioned are Ex-Governor Salomor
who has the largest northern following
Major-General E. Gard who has the SUP
port OF the southern delegations; Maic
Horace Bell, editor of the Free Lance POI
ci.piae, and Major Charles f. Wilson.
woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.